The Spirit of Christmas

I have to admit, I had a rough Christmas season this year. I was busy deflecting colds, we were working out family issues, looking for jobs, hoping to reinvent our future (not in residency this next year), finding renters, fixing up our parent's basement, and the list goes on. The whole part where the Savior is born in a lowly manger with no crib for his bed, I missed that. It is so easy to miss the most important things in life. There are so many distractions, so many people to blame, so many problems to complain about. I guess the real "secret" to life, that is not really a secret at all, is that it is meant to be hard-- the Savior was not born into a life of glory and comfort. He was born in a manager. But that birth made all the difference, that birth made it so "hard" wouldn't be "too hard" and that once the "hard" was over, we would have our families (and the other relationships that lifted us through the difficult times) forever. Christ was born so that we might live. So on my Christmas list for next year is to stop fretting and instead lift someone who has been forgotten in the Christmas haste. Wish me luck ;)

Above I've posted pictures of some of our "non-stressful" Christmas moments (cause those are really the only moments that last anyways). You'll see my brother-in-law on a chair directing the very wiggly grandchildren in a Christmas Nativity. Will also took the picture of my dad with one of the grandkids at our yearly walk through the Ogden lights on Christmas Eve. There is also a picture of me making fun of my sister's "skinny pants." I love them but I feel like I am back in Jr. High! And last but not least I couldn't help but post the picture of Will with his new snow shoes! I think he likes his present -- but I have to admit it was very "me" driven. I love snowshoeing!!! And for the past few years he had to wear my pink snow shoes while I wore my old snow shoes. I get my snowshoes back, and now we can spend our winters hiking the Wasatch Mountains!

House painting

This is just a quick blog to let you know how our repainting is coming. For those of you who don't know we moved into the basement apartment of Summer's parents about a month ago. The apartment consists of four rooms: a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room and a bedroom. So far we've got the bedroom done (except for the accidental paint chip I put in the wall) and the bathroom is nearly done as well. Fortunately the kitchen did not require a lot of work (at least as far as I can tell), but the living room still has a few touch ups to be done. Mostly we have to put the baseboards back in and I think Summer's Dad wants to put the stone above the fireplace in. In any case its looking good and hopefully in a few days it will be presentable to the world. The pictures above show us repainting the bedroom and Summer wants me to note the improvement in the color choice--green to brown with a chocolate brown accent wall in the bedroom.

Sleep appointment

Before we left for Ohio we actually got approved for a sleep study and went to be tested. Dr. Simpson, however, did not have room to see us after that appointment, before we left for Ohio. As a result the follow up visit was today. Both Will and I were dreading attending the appointment. Will because he thought the doctor might tell him that because of his "sleepiness" it would be difficult to ever return to be a doctor. I was unexcited because of the pre-Ohio drama with mandating us to take the test and not wanting to write a letter saying "he seriously doubted that Will had sleep apnea" even though this was the case. So thus followed the back and forth with trying to get it covered under insurance. In the end it was covered and Will of course did not have sleep apnea and did not have narcolepsy.

The appointment actually went very well. Dr. Simpson was surprised, as is the case with many doctors, that Will was much more alert than a few months earlier and that he did not look sleepy during the appointment. With these observations, and my comments on maybe we look for alternative careers in medicine he told Will -- "You are young and your brain will heal, don't give up on becoming a doctor, even if it took a few years. Be patient." He then quoted what he thought was said by Winston Churchill-- "Never give up!"

I have to admit this was a vote of confidence we sorely needed as the past few weeks have been especially difficult (depressing). On top of this good news--- Will signed up to volunteer weekely in a free clinic today. They are very excited to have Will on board and he will be shadowing doctors, taking vitals, etc...

The above pictures are Will and I at Temple Square. The lights were enchanting. ps the Goattee was my idea-- he wore it for at least four hours before I demanded he shave it ;)